Published 11:15 pm, Wednesday, August 26, 2015

When Brent Davis took over the San Angelo Central football program in 2009, he began building expectations for success from within.

After three district titles in a four-year span, those expectations are starting to come from outside of the program as well.

Despite the biggest offensive overhaul in Davis’ six seasons and the loss of three seniors to Football Bowl Subdivision programs, the Bobcats are still projected among the district favorites in 2015.

It is the type of annual respect that was recently reserved for Abilene High, and before that the likes of Lee and Permian.

“We have our program where it is highly competitive out in West Texas,” Davis said. “We’ve won three of the last four district championships and two in a row. We deserve the respect.

“I think our program is headed in the right direction.”

The Bobcats finished 11-2 last year, advancing to the third round of the playoffs for the first time since 2003.

Listing three returning starters on offense may undersell Central’s experience, as three-star quarterback prospect Brennen Wooten (6-foot-2, 184) moved to Central from Marble Falls in the offseason, where he had started as a sophomore and a junior.

Wooten threw for 3,000 yards in each season and has verbally committed to sign with TCU.

He will have just one holdover on the offensive line (SMU commit Braxton Webb, 6-5, 272) and one experienced receiver in 6-3 wideout Will Grindstaff.

“I think our receivers have gotten better,” Crane said. “It is hard not to improve with the way we practice because they are getting so many reps. The reps in the summer are beneficial too. At first getting the guys on the same page was something we were trying to do. I think that they’ve come along and we are still trying to fit all the puzzle pieces together. They have to grow up and hop out there and do it.”

Grindstaff caught 17 passes for 210 yards and four touchdowns and is poised for a big season alongside newcomers Aaron Wooten, Cal Vincent and Adam West -- all who are 6-feet or taller.

The Central coaches feel strongly about three pieces of the O-Line, including Webb at left tackle, Cameron Cross at center and Rodrick Mayberry at right tackle, but will still be a “work in progress” through much of fall practice and the non-district slate.

While the offense will be finding its form early in the season, there are no such worries about a defense that returns seven starters -- including four regulars along an experienced line (Dylan Parsee, Austin Garcia, Jordan Schellhase and Cedrick Smith).

Parsee, a 6-3 Stephen F. Austin commit at defensive end, is the leader of the group and a player that Davis thinks will be among the best in the district, if not the region.

First team all-district safety Donavyn Jackson is making the move to linebacker to join junior Gehrig Scott as the defensive playmakers.

Scott (54 tackles, 3 sacks) will return to his natural position of MIKE linebacker and is one of the most veteran players that will suit up for Central this fall, having been on varsity since his freshman season.

The secondary will break in two new faces, but the Bobcats feel good about Brock Martin at free safety and have given Mike Guzman -- the fastest player in the program - the first crack at replacing Connor Frank at cornerback.

Will Vincent (cornerback) and Beau Lasater (safety) return after getting a year under their belts as juniors last fall.

Davis expects Permian and Abilene High to be improved from last year, the two teams that gave Central the toughest games last fall in District 3-6A play, but he knows every week will be difficult once October rolls around.

Davis expects the district to be the typical dogfight that West Texas football fans are accustomed to.

“I think the whole district is going to be really good,” Davis said. “Every week is going to be a battle and that is what makes this district so fun. Last year we were undefeated and that is a big accomplishment in this district. Everybody is pretty dang good.”

Coach Davis on the offense: “This is the biggest rebuild on offense we’ve had since 2012. I’ve never in my career had as many kids this tall at wide receiver. Offensive line will be a work in progress, but when we get to district we will have it figured out.”

Coach Davis on the defense: “Defensively we look really sharp. I think we can be really good as long as we stay healthy. They were already disguising blitzes on the first day of practice, and that is a good sign.”

Special Teams

Strength: Speed

Weakness: No experience at kicker

Players to watch

Now Playing:

Marc Cabrera, Jr., K; Collin McDonald, Sr., K; Mike Brown, Sr., R

Coach Davis on the special teams: “We spend a lot of time on special teams, because we know it can be the difference in a ballgame.”